Velocipede



(No Model A. B. CURTIS. VELQGIPEDE TRBADLE.

No. 512,871. Patented Jan. 16,1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT B. CURTIS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

VELOClPEDE-TREADLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 512,871, dated January 16, 1894.

Application filed J ly 18, 1893. Serial No. 480,833- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT B. CURTIS, of the city and county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipede-Treadles: and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawngs, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 represents a side view, partly in section, of a velocipede treadle embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an end View thereof, with the dust-cap removed, looking in the direction of arrow 09, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the inside of said dust-cap. Fig. 4 is a central, longitudinal section therethrough and Fig. 5 is a similar section thereof, showing a modification in the constructlon which will be hereinafter described.

The object of my invention is to provide a dust-cap whereby a double protection of the ball-bearings may be effected; and also whereby sa1d dust-cap may be easily and perfectly centered on the end plates of the treadle when fitting the same in position and whereby it may be removed without disconnecting any.

other parts of the treadle.

Saidinvention consists of certain novel features in the construction of said dust-cap; and 1n the mode of applying and securing the same to the treadle, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that others may better understand the nature and purpose of my said invention, 11] wlill now proceed to describe it more in de- 1n the drawings, A represents the main spindle or axis, over which is fitted a sleeve B, preferably with a slight space a between them. Said sleeve is interposed between the hubs C O of the end-bearings O O, which have arms 0 0 extending out to support the foot-rests D D, as usual, and whose hubs C are adapted to form bearings for the friction- I balls E. When said parts are fitted together they are held, as usual, by the foot-rest spindles F F, and nuts I) b. On the main spindle are arranged, just outside of the frictionballs E, the usual cone-bearings c which are secured in place by the washers dand nuts 6.

All of the foregoing construction is substantially the same as in other treadles now in use, and I make no claim thereto, except in combination with my improved dust-cap G, and oil-cap H. Said dust-cap consists of the two parts f and f'--f being the outer or main part, and f, a supplementary, internal part, the purpose of which latter will be hereinafter described. The outer, or cap-piece f, is made of similar shape to the end-bearings 0, previously referred to, except that the central portion f is made solid and cup-shaped, instead of with a central opening g, as are said end bearings. Said cap is made of stamped, sheet-metal, and has arms G G, provided with .openings h h to receive the nuts of the foot-rest spindles. The dust-caps are held in position against the faces of the end-bearings, by means of suitable hollow nuts M, fitted onto the threaded ends of the footrrest spindles, and over their nuts I), as is shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, as will obviously be seen, said dust-caps may be removed without loosening or otherwise affecting any other parts of the treadle, by simply removing said hollow nuts. In this instance, the end-bearing hubs-are shown as being provided with an annular rim j, around the outside of the ball-bearing opening, and the cap f is correspondingly shaped at the base of its central, cup-shaped part f to correspond with and fit thereto, as is shown in Fig. 1, but Ido not limit myself thereto. The interior part f of dust-cap G consists of an inwardly and laterally projecting, annular fiange k, which may be formed by pressinga'tight-fitting ring endwise into the inside of the central cup f as is shown in Figs. 1 and 4, leaving a portion thereof projecting inward from the cup to form said annular flange; or by pressing a tight-fitting, cup-shaped part f into said cup f with the open end out, and projecting in like manner to the ring, as is shown in Fig. 5 or, if desired, said annular flange k may be formed upon or secured to the cap f, in any other suitable and convenient manner. The purpose thereof is to form an additional or double protection against dust entering the ball-bearings when fitted t0 the treadle, as is shown in Fig. 1. It will be observed that when thus applied, the flange k fits perfectly around the ball-bearing opening, making a tight joint, and thereby preventing any dust that may work under the cap from enterln g said ball-bearing, the result of which, as Wlll at once be apparent, being a more durable treadle, and one which will run more evenly and smoothly than it otherwise would :VlthOlll? the application of said improved feaure.

Another advantage of the flange 1c is, that being fitted perfectly in the ball-bearing openlng, and at the same time made easily removable therefrom, renders the operation of fitting and centering the dust-cap to the treadle very easy and expeditious, and when thus fitted, turns upon a true center to the main spindle or axis, and, therefore, presents a much neater and more pleasing appearance in operation, than if imperfectly centered so as to have the appearance in side view of wabbling about, as is commonly the case where such a feature is not provided.

Having now described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a velocipede treadle, a double dustcap adapted to fit over the end-bearing plate, and into the ball-bearing opening, consisting of a stamped sheet-metal cap, having a central, cup-shaped part, and an internal part tightly fitted by pressure into said central cup to hold it and form an inwardly and laterally projecting, annular flange, said dustcap also being provided with perforated arms and means whereby it may be fastened in position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a velocipede-treadle, the combination of the end-bearing plates and their hubs, with a dust-cap provided with a stamped sheetmetal cap-piece,having a central, cupshaped part, and an inwardly and laterally projecting annular flange formed by pressing a tightfitting ring, or its equivalent, endwise into said cup-shaped part, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a velocipede-treadle, the combination of the end-bearing hub and stamped sheetmetal cap-piece, having a central, cup-shaped, part, with a ring, or its equivalent tightly fitted endwise in said cup-shaped part, and also adapted to fit in the opening of said end-bearing hub, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the foot-rest spindles and dust-cap, with hollow nuts fitted onto the ends of said spindles against the face of said dust-caps, and over the usual spindle nuts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ALBERT B. CURTIS. lVitnesses:

ALBERT A. BARKER, WALTER B. NoURsE. 

